Slow but worthwhile

Suzhou River review

Rated - 3.0 stars

By a customer from Coventry, UK Avatar image

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Suzhou River

Director Lou Ye
Run time 83 mins Certificate 15

6th September 2004

A film that's taken from a cinematographer's point of view is always going to have a slanted view on reality and narrative, which is exactly the puzzle this film tries to make you solve. At first it seems straightforward enough to follow a couple of points of view, but you soon start to question what exactly the truth of the story is and, like both central characters, you have to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together for yourself. Admittedly it's slow by Hollywood standards, but some of the languorous shots are beautiful in their own way, and the film has so many little touches of other genres that it is quite an intentional work of art in the end. A bit different, but worth watching.